Mise en oeuvre du protocole d'évaluation de crédibilité SVA dans le contexte médico-légal francophone.

Implementation of SVA credibility evaluation protocol in the French-language medicolegal context The credibility of statements by minors regarding sexual abuse must be assessed according to a scientifically proven methodology. The Statement Validity Assessment Protocol (SVA) has been most studied and validated. It comprises three stages: a semi-structured technique for listening to children by so-called “progressive stages”, a scale for evaluation of statements called Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA), and a supplementary list of criteria external to the listening function. We have conducted a systematic search of field studies on the use of the SVA in a forensic setting. Nine studies were selected. On the basis of a synthesis of these studies we propose a French-language version of the SVA method using the CBCA’s 18 criteria for analysis of statements according to a dichotomic rating and an interpretation of the final score enabling us to orient the evaluation of the statement as credible, doubtful or not credible. The list of supplementary criteria is used to weight this assessment according to the influence of additional factors. This set of proposals for easy-to-apply rules for the use of SVA is intended to standardise its use in the French-speaking forensic context.